Crazy Days

Where did I go?? Well, things have been crazy...lol, and it is long past due for an update! I was hired on as Media Manager and Site Admin at KjoiStudios. Learning my new role there has kept me hopping! But I have enjoyed every minute of it!

On top of this, there is a chance that my boys both have an autism spectrum disorder...at this point we think Aspergers. So, I have been busy trying to work with Dr.'s and the school and my boys to see what accurate diagnosis we might find. This of course is a job and a half, but I am finding a ton of support from friends...online and offline...who know what I am facing and are showing they care.

I have now officially left DigiScrapStation...although I hope to go back again at some point. With the above mentioned things going on I haven't had time to do anything more there, and didn't feel that right for Nancy who is so kind and easy-going. Anyway, I will miss them greatly but will still stop by from time to time as life allows because the ladies there ROCK!! They are so nice and welcoming!

Then, at KjoiStudios...we are preparing to celebrate International Scrapbooking Industry Day on March 4th. There is SO MUCH going on there! We have at least 6 different challenges, 3 chats, 2 games, and 2 drawings...all of these come with a prize for the winner, or for the participants!! We were able to line up some incredible sponsors for the prizes too!! Plus we will be hosting a hunt...don't worry there isn't a piece to this hunt kit that is hosted on 4shared or any other file sharing site...so no need to worry that freebie hunting is going to destroy your computer! So, I hope to see you all there! And I look forward to hearing what you all have been up to...lol!!

Been away...but I am back! All Aboard!!

Hi all,
Due to computer issues last month and then more fun with some Trojan virus' this month you are probably wondering where I have been...LOL! I am still here, just was away for a bit on a FORCED vacation from the computer! The 10 Weeks Before Christmas Challenge is still going on over at KjoiStudios...and this week is Holiday Parties and Dinner Parties. Go check it out...but first keep reading for more FUN!

Also, DigiScrapStation has been doing an Ornamental Express...where there is a freebie ornament each day of the month! And the even better news is that they will stay up until mid-January, so if you have missed the previous days...not to worry, you can still go snag them! And when you see todays you really will want to...at least if you want the whole set of my hybrid train ornaments! I had a BLAST creating these from scratch...but with my train loving kids it really wasn't too difficult...LOL! Anyway, enough blabbering from me...the info for each days ornament can be found on the DSS blog. And here is what we have done for you so far:


But for a better look at today's here is what I have in store for you:


And because I know by now that you are just going crazy for the link...simply click on the preview above for the download. If for any reason that isn't working...then try this one HERE. It comes with a tutorial on how to put it together! I would love to see how yours turns out...so feel free to post a picture in the gallery at DSS!! Enjoy!!

10 Weeks Before Christmas Challenge!!

I am already busy at work at Kjoi!! LOL! I am having a blast!!

Those that know me in RL...know how MUCH...I LOVE CHRISTMAS! I generally prepare MONTHS in advance, starting in June...but this year I am WAY behind. So, I got to thinking...how do I catch up with my Christmas to do's and still digi-design and have FUN!! Well, at KjoiStudios I am putting my answer(here is my ad):


I had a LOT of FUN coming up with the poem...and only used a little piece of it for this ad!! The whole version is up in the Kjoi forum. I will probably be doing a weekly chat, but haven't nailed down the exact time yet!! And here is a run down of what we will be doing:

Week #1: Calendars...for family or the scrapbook...works either way!

Week #2: Gift Lists...this will be a TON more FUN than it sounds...LOL! Come prepared to post family gifting traditions you either do or would like to do!!

Week #3: Christmas Cards...with a LOVELY surprise to help them along!!

Weeks #4, #5, and #6: We will be doing fun Photo Craft or Scrapping related Gifts for those on our Gift Lists...or ourselves...LOL!

Weeks #7 and #8: Ornaments for our trees...every year I make one for my family with a story. I will have a fun Christmas story to go with these two as well!

Week #9: Time to Wrap some gifts! We will have some ideas for FUN gift tags, or dressing up gift bags and wrapped presents!

Week #10: This is when we reward our hard...but FUN work!! I am REALLY excited for this week!! Stay around and you will find out why!!

Now...just in case any of you may have forgotten...Jessica Sprague starts her newest class Registration TOMORROW at 9 EST! DON'T MISS THIS!! There is NO ONE that explains PS as well as she, and this is a class you don't even have to be a scrapper to attend!! It is called Stories In the Hand...and is like it says...ALL about getting our stories in our hands rather than just in our minds...which, LOL, we all know can be faulty with stress or time!!





Now on to Challenge #2...hmmm, no not yet, LOL! You will just have to check out DigiScrapStation in a few weeks for this one. I want to make sure it is FABULOUS first!!

Freebie Template and Tutorial...

...but it isn't the calendar one yet! Yesterday I got to playing with a template design after I saw a video on making a Journaling Card Page from traditional supplies at ScrapSupplies.com. They have a few different videos, so feel free to check them out. Now I thought to myself, I wonder if I can create something similar in digi...and so I had a LOT of FUN doing it!! Here is what I came up with...

This peaked my interest as I just finished the Type+Write Class at JessicaSprague.com that focuses on fun ways to add truly meaningful journaling to you LO's. IT WAS FANTASTIC!!! And Jess had put together some INCREDIBLE templates for us to use, that also had me wondering...can I figure out how to do THAT too??!! So, there are some added fun layers to this template that you won't need to touch...unless you don't like what I did with it. It still isn't quite up to Jessica's caliber...but it is getting closer!

Now in the cool tutorial video they took tags and made them into flaps that they could put photos under. I have included a template without a shadow behind the cards for this purpose, this is what you will use. Anyway, here is a little tutorial for you on how to do something similar:

Go ahead and clip on your papers like you would with any other template...if by chance you don't yet know how to do this with PSE or CS, not to worry, check out a FABULOUS video tutorial by Jess done for CKM at The Spraground Free Tutorial Area . You might need to be logged in to see it. It comes with a Freebie too!

Take your page once everything is added and it has been printed, and grab a cutting tool...I will be using an exacto knife.

( I hope I don't lose anyone by adding this here, but if you want the BACK of your tags to have a color or patterned paper on them when they are open you will need to adhere the paper of your choice to the back of your printed layout BEFORE you cut!}

Next cut along the edges of the "cards"...BUT BE SURE TO LEAVE ONE SIDE ATTACHED. You have flexibility here, you don't have to choose to leave the top attached on all of them, but you can go that route if it is your preference.

Use something to score along that remaining side, this makes it easier to fold. If you don't have any traditional scrapping supplies to do this you can use a pair of scissors. Open them and VERY GENTLY run the blade along where you want to fold. (If this isn't done carefully then you will cut through it...so again BE GENTLE if you go this route.)

After you have done this to any of the 11you want photos under, than you want to have a way to put the photos underneath your card "flaps", but not to fear there are a few ways to do this:

1. I have created a template...simple though it be...for that too, just adhere it under your journaling card layout.

2. Just glue/adhere them under after you have made the flaps.

3. Take a piece of 12X12 cardstock and adhere them to that then attach the two.

You should then have a completed page with both Journaling and Photos. The project that I took the inspiration for this from used this as a month page...so there is one thought for you. I look forward to seeing what you come up with. If you remember too...I know I forget things often...please post back here with a link to your finished layout! I only created the templates yesterday, so I have not yet had time to do an example for you...but I will be posting it here when I have it finished.

You can download the zip of the templates by clicking on the preview here:

(This will only be a freebie on my blog for one week...then it will be able to be found in my store at Digiscrapstation.com .)

Sale Time!! Just because I LOVE you!!

Okay I put all of my previously displayed items at DSS on sale 50% off yesterday for 2 weeks! I figure it has been quite a while since I had a sale, and I am feeling in a generous mood...so sale time it is!

Also, I have a new item offered in my store! LO services are now offered through the store. I am REALLY looking forward to offering this! You can find it in my store by clicking on the preview image.

I have a LOT of fun doing LO's and this gives me an opportunity to mix my designing with my scrapping! If there is a desire to increase this aspect to card services...especially with Christmas around the corner...then email me at aprildawn@digiscrapstation.com and I can see about adding a card service as well!

And for more good news...Kjoistudios.com has their store back up on a newer LARGER server, so the Design contest is back in full swing. There are 4 weeks worth of freebies up, and voting can be done on their forum for week 3 and week 4 through October 5th! Don't forget to comment on your favorites in their gallery either as those count toward their scores!

And for those of you from the Spraground waiting for the calendar tutorial...stay close by as that is on my plate for the next day or two. (Depending on what my children will allow me to do while on their school break! LOL!)

Good news and Bad news!

I always start with the bad news when I have both. I find that way you leave on a happy note, and the other person knows after getting the bad news that things can only get better! Anyway, the Bad news is that Kjoistudios grew so fast that the bandwidth usage was more than their servers could hold. So, the contest is on temporary hold, and their site is TEMPORARILY down...although last I looked the blog was still working. All of my things for the rest of the contest are turned in, so I am simply on hold waiting for it to get back up to find out how I did.

The Good news is I have a little time on my hands I didn't think I would yet! Which is fabulous when it happens to be your anniversary!! YAY!! It has been nine fantastic years with my wonderful honey! I can honestly say that I happier with that decision than I am with any other I have made in my life! He truly makes me happy. We met and married in 6 months time...but it is obvious to those who know us that it was right for us! LOL!

Now the other good news is that I have finally after a 2 month break got something new in my store!! The irony is that it is a mini kit with a baby theme...LOL!

This IS NOT an announcement...but since our first child was somewhat of a honeymoon baby, it fits! LOL! Also, my dear sister is due anyday now with her first...so you could say that is the reason that it was on my mind! So, here is a glimpse of it.

Here is the mini kit.

And here is a matching alpha!

You can purchase them in my store at DigiScrapStation! I would LOVE to see your LO's when you finish them...feel free to leave me a link to them in the comments!

My First Creative Team Call!!

Okay, it is LONG past time for me to do a CT call! I am in need of 2 DigiScrapStation Store CT members. They would be represent me at DigiScrapStation, which means that they would use one of my kits each month and then be free to choose from any at the store for the other layouts they do. The store has many talented designers, so that gives you a wide range of digi-kits, templates, overlays, and more to choose from. I am also looking for CT members just for me!!

If any of my dear friends that visit me here are wanting to help me with this...just email me at aprildawn_creations@yahoo.com. And if anyone is new to my blog, but still interested, email me...I LOVE making new friends! Here is the call that includes several designers from DigiScrapStation:

Chooo Choooo...the train is BOARDING!! Are you on it?

We need new CT members for our growing team at DigiScrapStation!

We have several CT positions open for different designers. Apply today! Don't wait!!

Work for one designer and for the whole store...at the same time!!

We currently have 30 designers and more joining us weekly!

We are a fun-loving team and are willing to work with YOU!

You will be assigned to begin each month with one designer's kits. After completing one kit, you can choose your second kit from ANY designer in our store to work with. Complete that kit and go back to choosing a kit from your designer...and so on. There are NO limits on the number of kits you can work with, but you must complete the requirements for one kit before you can go onto the next one.

ONE kit
TWO layouts
THREE postings to galleries (one of course being DigiScrapStation)

And other assignments as needed...possibly make Quick Pages or Brag Book Pages from various kits, or the sites collab kits...all which you get for FREE!

Send us a link to your gallery and a little about yourself:

Name:

Email address:

Experience (not required):

Style (if any):

Designer I would like to work with (see list below):

List of designers seeking Creative Team members:

(please contact them personally if an email address is next to their name)

April Dawn Creations

Denise, Designs by Crazy Diamond

Jen, Jen's Designz

Julie, Share Your Moments

Kelly, Late Night Scraps

Mari, Lovely Scraps marilovelyscraps@ gmail.com

Sandi, Lioness3Legacies

Shannon, Simply-Digiscrap shannon@simply- digiscrap. com

Sherry Williams, Sherry's Scraps

Stacey Crossley Designs

Tiffany Berman, Inspired by Dominic

To find the designer's items, go to DigiScrapStation. com's store and scroll down, looking on the left side of your screen. Under Manufacturers, click on the designer's name and you can view her whole store.

For all others, or for more information, contact our CT Coordinator, Kathy, at ctadmin@digiscrapst ation.com.

Thank you and hope to be working with you soon!

Freedom on the 4th!!

It has been a little bit, and there is nothing new in my store. This is due to Real Life jumping in on us big time. We discovered a beehive in our attic, one that had apparently been there for several weeks. There turned out to be about 13 gallons of bees, honey, and honeycomb up there. So, we are just so very grateful that none of our children, or ourselves, were stung or attacked in the time they were here. We are so glad to "bee" free of them!!

I also wanted to do something to celebrate the fourth in the digi-scrapping world...so, I have a coupon for my blog visitors! This will give you $4.00 off anything in my store...it is a one time use, and you must get $4.00 worth of my items in order to use it. The coupon code is: adc4freedom. So, enjoy the fourth, and the HUGE blessing that freedom brings, and visit www.digiscrapstation.com to find my store and use the coupon. This coupon is good through the 10th...just to be sure all can have the freedom to enjoy it!!

Sale Time!! I LOVE YOU, GRANDMA!!

Just thought I would pop in to let you all know that for this whole week everything in my store is 33% of in honor of my dear grandmother's 91st birthday this week!! HAPPY BIRTHDAY GRANDMA!! This is a woman who was widowed when she was pregnant with her fourth child, due to grandpa's heart condition. This is a woman who took her situation, and got the best of it.

She raised all 4 children to be wonderful members of their community. She taught school to put food on the table and because she enjoyed it. She had a garden every year, and journaled nearly every night. She weeded, and planted, and harvested, and canned. She sewed, and cooked, and cleaned, and taught. She continues to teach all of us about the importance of family and good friends, and being a good neighbor and friend yourself.

In all reality...she is the Rosebud in the Garden to me...only she has most definitely bloomed into the most wonderous and beautiful Rose one could ever behold! And that design of mine was inspired by her, her love to garden, and my love for her. She is in every sense of the word...GRANDMA!

I would just like to leave you with this quote from her, when asked how she has made it and what advice she would give the young ones, she said: "It doesn't matter what life throws your way, you just keep going. If you have to climb over it...you just keep going. If you have to move it...you just keep going. If you have to plow through it, you just keep going."

The words might be slightly off...it is quoted from memory, but that is my Grandma and the strength she exudes and has through all 91 of her years and will continue to do as long as she..."just keeps going"! I LOVE YOU, GRANDMA!!

Been a little bit...but I am back with more goodies!

Hi all, I have so much going on lately so I have been a little too silent here...but it is time for an update! There is so much that I don't know quite where to start. I guess with the new guest designer position!

That's right I am a guest designer for the month of July at Benevolent Boutique. This is a non-profit store, devoted to serving others. June's Charity has been the Make A Wish Foundation. So, all proceeds from the June items sold go there, and there is even a place to simply donate if you would like to. I am truly thrilled about this as it is a store that fits me, just wish I could do this always...I might have to work on that. There are so many that need help out there, I am always wishing I could do more. But it feels absolutely fabulous to be able to share my time and talents to help.

Now for the latest on my store in DigiScrapStation...I have a new kit up, and I think it is my best yet! Rosebud Garden...it comes as a kit, or can be bought as a paper pack, an element pack, or an alpha.

DigiScrapStation just started up a store blog this week, and it is looking fabulous! You can check it out here. And be sure that you do...because I felt that it had been far to long without a freebie for my friends! So, Friday's Freebie is from me, and goes fabulously with my new Rosebud Garden Kit!! Check this out:


I am so thrilled! I truly hope that you enjoy this! You can find it on the store blog, just click on the awesome train download button at the bottom of my post there and this beauty is yours!!

Happy Happy Birthday!! All Around!

As I have posted previously this weekend is my DS, L.J.'s 8th birthday. And in celebration of this fact, I am including in my store a mini kit, inspired by one of his most favorite things/people
...firefighters.

It has 8 papers and 8 elements, and just for fun we threw in 4 buttons. This is also my eighth item in the store, following my new alpha...also inspired by my DS!

And which is included free, WITH the purchase of the kit for a limited time-offer expires June 30th. Just buy the kit the link for the alpha is already included. Click on the previews and it will take you to where they are in the store. And starting tomorrow both of these will be on sale, along with the gift card holder set, for 20% off. This will last through midnight on Monday the 9th.

Now with birthday's in mind...my favorite online place to be, The SPRAGROUND, is having it's one year birthday today!! And in honor of its fabulous birthday, party going on right now, and the FABULOUS teacher that Jessica has been for me and so many others and continues to be daily, I am offering the sample I made of my Teacher Appreciation Gift Card Holder FREE!! You can see an example of it below...labeled sample in the preview, only the freebie doesn't have the message for the Teacher...that is yours to add! Thank you Jessica for sharing your knowledge so generously with anyone wanting to know how to use Photoshop to scrap their most treasured memories! You can snag it here!

More Designing and CT fun!!

Okay, it has been a little bit, so I thought you due an update!! I am excited to announce the newest item in my store...Life Events Gift Card Holders! The idea credit must go to my friend Heather (from Spraground).


This is a pack of 7 Card Holders, with 300ppi layered templates for the outsides and for the insides. So that makes a total of 14 templates! This set covers baby, birthday, graduation, wedding, housewarming, teacher appreciation/school, and condolances. Here is what one looks like when completed:
This is a hybrid project so you will have to find your own ribbon, but everything else (except adhesive) can be printed out. I am planning another set to include holidays, and seasons...which should be in the store within the next 2 weeks as well! And I have a special surprise kit and alpha that I will be releasing this next week...but that is another post altogether!!

And great news, our store has been given ad space in digishoptalk.com 's newsletter...and it comes complete with a coupon for digiscrapstation (us)!! So, if you like a bargain...go check it out! Now for LO's, as I was a scrapper (and still am) before I was a designer. Here are my latest LO's for my CT's:

Credits: Autumn Days Kit from DesignsBySassy.

I am still on the CT for her...and loving it! She is so fun to work with, and just had a new little baby boy...CONGRATS! You can check out here designs at www.designsbysassy.com. This LO was of a trip we made to a tried and true pumpkin patch to pick pumpkins a few years ago. The baby in the picture is now 3!! Hard to believe! Here is another LO, a really long overdue one:

Credits: The 2 of Us Kit from NatalieBirdDesigns.

This is of my wedding night...I was crazy enough to sing to my best friend and husband at our wedding reception. And while I can carry a tune, nerves and emotions got the better of me and my vocal cords that night! Our poor guests...but all in all it was a beautiful day and night, and I am shamed to admit I would probably do it (sing at my wedding reception) all again in a minute if I were to go back in time and do our day over again. Now for another almost equally overdue LO:

Credits: Spring Magic Kit from NatalieBirdDesigns.

This is of my son that is turning 8 this next week. He was thrilled to see so many bright colored eggs, but so VERY disappointed when he couldn't eat them! And he wasn't too excited to see the Easter Bunny either. He still has the bunny that was as big as him he got that day! Can my baby really be turning 8?? Okay, well, I have to go hug him some more...before grows up to much to want me to do that anymore!!

First in-Store Kit-The Vineyard

I hope you all like this! I am planning a word art add-on, but wanted to get this in the store! So it is up and able to be bought!

Click on picture to visit where it is in the store.

I hope you all like this! I am planning a word art add-on, but wanted to get this in the store! So it is up and able to be bought! It is on sale until Sunday at 40% off, which makes it $2.10 right now! I also have about 5 other kits in the works, but I don't know if they will get done this weekend. Real life is calling often! LOL!

Secret Revealed!! YAY!!

Okay, time for the secret reveal! I was asked by Nancy Wilkins of DigiScrapStation.com to join their design team!! YAY! I have been very busy getting myself familiar with the new information on how to set up my store. I don't have much in it, but plan on spending a LOT of time on designing in the next few weeks to get more in there...so please stop in to see from time to time all the new things I will be adding.

I want to stop here and thank all of my friends both on the Spraground and here that have been so supportive in my designing and playing...I couldn't be at this point without all of you and a VERY supportive family. And THANK YOU JESSICA!! I didn't move on in the SYTYCD challenge at Scrap Orchard, but this is SO much better!

Now for the real FUN! DigiScrapStation is having it's grand opening starting Tomorrow until Sunday!! May 15th is National Chocolate Chip Day, and we have been busy making the most of this! We have put together a kit, but in order to get all the pieces you must visit places on our site...so stop by the forum and see the Welcome Gifts area for more info on this! But here is a sneak preview of what my part is:



We are going to be making you hungry with this kit...so you might want to either buy or make some cookies and have a glass of milk on hand to help with this! Have a LOT of fun...there are some great sales going on as well, so shop if you like! There might be other freebies during the next week too!

Like I said, I don't have much up in my area yet, but in the next few days I am hoping to add a few things...so be patient with me and enjoy the other designers in the meantime! I am so EXCITED!!